The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit wants judicial sentencing forms to meet the requirements of both case law and the U.S. sentencing guidelines.
In an opinion released Monday, the circuit asked the U.S. Sentencing Commission and the Judicial Conference of the United States to have the Statement of Reasons form used by sentencing judges be brought “into conformity with the law.” Judges John Gleeson and Rosemary Pooler said one section of the form presumes that a sentence within the guidelines range is reasonable, and courts are not allowed to make that presumption.
